In this episode we chat to Wendy Armstrong who is a 39 year old Wife & Mam from Carlisle. Wendy is sharing a chat with us about how she has come to accept her body for what it is and realised that there are far more important things about her than what she weighs. Wendy has banished the weighing scales & started to exercise because she wants to and because it makes her happy rather than as a punishment to herself.

In this episode we welcome Andy Coleman who has joined us to share experiences from his own childhood to help raise awareness around ACEs as well as his ADHD diagnosis.

If you would like any more information or support for you, anybody that you know or an organisation you work for then you can try the links below or contact your local authority for details of training in your area.
 
You can also seek support from your GP if you feel like any of the issues raised affect your physical or mental health.

Believe in children | Children's charity | Barnardo's (barnardos.org.uk)

https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

In this episode we chat to 36 year old Michael Johnson from Carlisle, Cumbria who has recently been diagnosed with Adult ADHD which has helped him to better understand and manage his behaviours, relationships and life.

As always if you are affected by any of the issues raised, please talk to somebody. Reach out to a family member or friend, speak to your GP and ask for information and support.

Our guest in this episode is Liam Edmondson. Liam is the founder of Carlisle based Men's Peer Support Group Offload. He chats to us about his own personal experiences and how that led to him starting Offload to be able to help other men open up about their mental health.

Offload Cumbria

In this episode we speak to Lisa Birdsall, who was a guest previously on Episode 11 Series 1- Bereavement by Suicide.
Lisa revisits our conversation around Suicide Awareness, wanting to talk more about the risks & share her thoughts about how we can help more with the crisis that our community is facing.

For extra support with any of the issues raised in this episode please reach out to one of the following organisations that can help.

Every Life Matters - Suicide Safer Cumbria (every-life-matters.org.uk)

Samaritans | Every life lost to suicide is a tragedy | Here to listen

Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide – Overcoming the isolation of people bereaved by suicide (uksobs.org)

Homepage | Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) (thecalmzone.net)

In this episode we chat to Becky Towns who is currently running a project in Cumbria called Step Forward. The project focuses on supporting those facing Severe Mental Health Experiences and helps them find volunteering or employment opportunities. The project also aims to help break down the stigma surrounding Severe Mental Health and help Employers feel more confident to manage those facing it.

https://cumbriacvs.org.uk/about-us/step-forward/

[email protected]

In this episode we chat to Natasha from Carlisle who is a valued member of our iCan Health & Fitness Community. She is sharing her story about how she learnt to become comfortable in her own skin- from a shy, uncomfortable teenager to a confident 35 year old who works full time as a model.

In this episode Jenna from WeCan chats to Kathryn from The Happy Mums Foundation in Carlisle about the emotions involved in the transition from Maternity Leave back into the workplace. The Happy Mums Foundation are currently working on making extra support available to parents & employers during this transition and welcome anybody to get in touch that would like to be involved.

www.happymums.org.uk

In this episode we are joined by 2 guests- Amy Clark who is sharing her own lived experience of battling an eating disorder throughout her teenage years and Mum Lisa who contributes how that was for her as a parent.

They also talk about the expert patient work they are doing with the medical education team now- if you would like to get in touch to help you can contact [email protected]

There is also lots more support on the NHS website around Eating Disorders or you can find more information at The UK's Eating Disorder Charity - Beat (beateatingdisorders.org.uk)

In this episode we are joined by Laura Earl who has recently set up a Community Interest Company encouraging families to get outside hiking to increase wellbeing.

The Hiking Household | Family Friendly Walks | Cumbria